CIO takes over Grace Mugabe rally preparations

SUSPECTED state security agents have taken over the organisation of First Lady, Grace Mugabe's rally in Manicaland on Thursday, fearing her trip could be sabotaged due to serious Zanu-PF internal fights in the province, The Standard has learnt.

Sources in the divided Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial executive said senior officials opposed to Grace's preferred venue - Cashel Valley in Chimanimani - have now taken a back seat in the preparations, forcing state security agents to act.

A provincial executive member said intelligence officials were now taking the lead in mobilising people to attend Grace's rally to avoid an embarrassing low turnout after efforts to switch the venue to the central and neutral, Sakubva stadium were thwarted.

Upon his return from the United Nations General Assembly last week, President Robert Mugabe put to rest the war over Grace's rally venue, pitting one faction loyal to her and another reportedly led by loyalists of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Grace is now expected to address thousands of Zanu-PF supporters in Cashel Valley, Chimanimani East constituency, on Thursday. It is acting provincial party chairman Samuel Undenge's constituency.